A Couple of Things That Puzzle Me About the Shangri-La Diet
I had a couple of things that puzzled me about the whole theory behind The Shangri-La Diet, so I sent author and originator Seth Roberts an email this morning. Here it is:
Seth, I've been writing about low carbohydrate nutrition for over a decade now. A couple of my blog readers suggested I read the Shangri-La Diet, which I promptly did; I'm now combining it with my usual low carb program. Having written 9 low carb cookbooks, I am living proof that you can, indeed, eat enough on a low carb diet to gain weight. :-/ I've only been drinking oil for three days now, so I have no strong opinion to give on the efficacy, but it's certainly no big deal to try -- at least once I figured out that I should take oil when I got up at three am to go to the bathroom, thus avoiding two hours of not being able to drink tea in the middle of the day. I'm not crazy spicing, but I am trying to add at least a little novelty to my flavor and ingredient combinations. I eat no processed food.
Anyway, there's one thing that's really puzzling me, in light of your theories: Yes, I've been seriously addicted to sugar in my day, and did, indeed, eat the same processed foods over and over. But two of the substances to which I have been most fiercely addicted have had no calories. Back in high school, I was putting down 12-18 cans of Tab per day. Indeed, I think my Tab jones only was broken because Diet Coke took over the market, and I didn't much care for it. Also, aspartame didn't agree with me. I completely lost my taste for soda, and haven't drunk any kind of soda for over twenty years.
I also am, as the first paragraph suggests, heavily addicted to tea -- just good old black tea, with nothing in it, hot or iced. I could easily deal with the idea of going without food for two hours to get a "window" for my bland calories, but the idea of spending two waking hours without tea was gruesome.
So what explains this? Caffeine? Theanine? Something else? I won't drink other caffeine-containing beverages if tea is not available; I don't like coffee, or, as I mentioned, soda.
Also, perhaps my most compulsive food reaction in my adult life (you know, since I grew up and stopped stealing money from my parents to buy Hershey Bars and lemon drops) involved a new food, not one that had time to wear a pattern in my brain. Specifically, I was at a party and tried my first Jalapeno Kruncher potato chip. I'd had potato chips before, of course, but never jalapeno-flavored, and never anything that hot. I sat down next to the bowl. I did not move, I did not speak, except to growl at anyone who came near my potato chips, until they were all gone.
What gives? Any clue?
Thanks!
Dana Carpender
http://www.holdthetoast.com
I will, of course, share any response I get from Mr. Roberts with you.
